(The following appeared on the Worcester Telegram & Gazette website on June 6, 2011.)
WORCESTER, Mass — Ground was broken this morning on the $100 million expansion of the CSX freight yard between Shrewsbury and Franklin streets, culminating what had been a long and sometimes difficult planning process.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray joined state and local elected officials at the ceremonial groundbreaking, hailing the celebration as an important milestone in the comprehensive rail transportation agreement between the state and CSX. The deal is designed to expand commuter rail service and strengthen the state’s transportation infrastructure.
CSX is moving its freight operations out of the Beacon Park yards in Boston to existing rail yards in Central and Western Massachusetts. In the process, CSX is making Worcester its new freight hub for New England. When completed, the freight yard will encompass 79 acres.
The $100 million expansion is part of a private-public partnership between the state and CSX, allowing the rail line between Worcester and Boston to be opened to more commuter trains, with an eventual goal of 20 more trains per day.
Full story: Worcester Telegram & Gazette